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History of the United States
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"American history" redirects here. For the history of the continents, see History of the Americas.

The Mayflower, which transported Pilgrims to the New WorldU.S. History v • d • e
Timeline: Topics:
Pre-Columbia era
Colonial period
1776 to 1789
1789 to 1849
1849 to 1865
1865 to 1918
1918 to 1945
1945 to 1964
1964 to 1980
1980 to 1991
1991 to Present

Westward expansion
Overseas expansion
Diplomatic history
Military history
Technological and industrial history
Economic history
Cultural history
History of the South
Civil Rights (1896–1954)
Civil Rights (1955–1968)
Women's history

The United States is located in the middle of the North American continent, with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The United States ranges from the Atlantic Ocean on the nation's east coast to the Pacific Ocean bordering the west, and also includes the state of Hawaii, a series of islands located in the Pacific Ocean, the state of Alaska located in the northwestern part of the continent above the Yukon, and numerous other holdings and territories.[1]

The first known inhabitants of modern-day United States territory are believed to have arrived over a period of several thousand years beginning sometime prior to 15,000 years ago by crossing Beringia into Alaska. Solid evidence of these cultures settling in what would become the US is dated to at least 14,000 years ago.[2]

Relatively little is known of these early settlers compared to the Europeans who colonized the area after the first voyage of navigator Christopher Columbus in 1492 for Spain.[1] Columbus' men were also the first documented Old Worlders to land in the territory of the United States when they arrived in Puerto Rico during their second voyage in 1493.[3] Juan Ponce de León,...